Chapter 24
1306 Words
I was close to the cold palace and at the edge of my vision, noticed the same black blur. I forced my legs to go even faster, stretching my hands to reach for him.
“Miyon!”
I caught the attention of the assassin and with my intense concentration, noticed they hesitated just a bit. They changed their direction and dived into the cold palace from the roof. The cold palace was locked with a heavy padlock on the outside. The key was most likely kept deep in the palace so even if the guards got there, the assassin would be long gone before the place was even open. Forget the key, the guards hadn’t even showed up!
Prince Miyon was slipping away from my grasp as time ticked by. I removed the pin that held my hair in place and bent it. It was a special hairpin gifted to me by Prince Klaus, more malleable than the jade hairpins that reigned in the market. Amelia was responsible for teaching me how to pick locks.
Sliding the pin into the lock, I fiddled around a bit. I lost grip on the pin because of how much my hand trembled and worse, I wasn’t able to maintain focus. Counting on the complex layer of the cold palace to stall the assassin, I gave the hairpin one final twist.
The padlock fell to the ground, sending relief through my system. I immediately pushed the door open and ran into the cold palace.
The old decrepit palace didn’t look like it was habitable for anyone but as I ran forward, it became apparent that there was someone in there. I looked up, hoping to catch a glance of the assassin. It was hopeless because the cold palace was dark. I kept bumping into things, hurting myself and scratching my limbs on various obstacles.
“Miyon! Miyon!”
I received no reply. There was no other sound save for the wind from the open door and the rotten wood hitting the wall.
Is he… dead?
No, no, no, no, no! I’m just overreacting.
He’ll be fine.
There’s no way he’ll end up like Carrion and Celia, right?
Miyon cannot die! No, he would not die! I won’t let him die!
But… how?
I hear a small crackling to the right. I honed in on the sound and followed it, moving despite the amount of injury I added to my already bruising body. I felt nothing but the anxiety from losing the prince.
The crackling sound became closer until I identified it as the sound of a fire. I didn’t know someone was living in the cold palace… I barely even knew anything about the palace.
“Who’s there?”
“Is it time for lunch yet… who are you?”
“I came in here looking for the prince. He was brought in here by an assassin. If you’ve seen anyone suspicious then…”
“The only suspicious person here is you.”
The feminine voice was so close to my ears as was the cold blade to my throat. I gulped, feeling my fear and anxiety meld.
“Who are you?”
“I’m Prince Miyon’s nurse. I was looking for him before he was kidn*pped. Please, I just want to find him.”
“... I don’t trust you.”
“You don’t have to. Just help me find him.”
“Wouldn’t it be better if he was dead?”
“Why would anyone wish death upon a child? Even out here, you still want him dead! What did he ever do to anyone? What did he ever do?”
My ears gushed out uncontrollably and my words turned into incomprehensible sobs. My frustration was never ending even though the suffering was not my own.
The woman behind me withdrew her weapon, stepping back. I fell to my knees, continuing to cry.
“Why? Why do you cry for him?”
“He… he’s… family to me.”
“... Such a bold statement. He’s royalty.”
“I have cared for him more than anyone has. I know he deserves more and I am ready to give that to him at any cost.”
“Anyone that hears that would think you’re enamored with him or something.”
“I care deeply for him.”
“... It would seem you do.”
She snapped her fingers and a black clothed figure descended from the ceiling. I thought it was the same one that took the prince so I expressed relief on my face.
“Find the prince and bring him here.”
“Yes.”
The black clothed figure disappeared before I could say anything.
“W-What’s going on?”
“You’re new, aren’t you?”
“... Yes.”
“What’s your name?”
“Elayne. Elayne Greycastle.”
“Well, Elayne, I have just sent my subordinate to take care of the assassin that snuck in to take the little prince. He’s very capable so they’ll be back soon.”
“Who… who are you?”
“That’s a very good question. I used to be Queen Moriah.”
“Eh? I thought you were dead!”
“Everyone thinks that too. The servants that come here make sure to rub it in. But, I’m still alive, unfortunately.”
“How?”
“That bastard… I mean, King Mival kept me alive.”
Lord Erik said both the former Queen and her servant were ‘erased’. If Queen Moriah was still alive, then…
“Is Prince Miyon’s mother, perhaps, still alive?”
The look she gave me made it obvious.
“I doubt she is. The day I was thrown in here was the last time I saw the both of them. I was kept alive because I was still useful but as for her…”
How could one be so cruel?
“However, I’m glad. They came in day after day, mocking me, spreading rumors about a curse to which I was a culprit, going as far to call him a bastard, I thought he would be maltreated. To find someone who considers him family… words cannot express how glad I am.”
The turnover of the situation was strange but an ally was always appreciated. Everyone around King Mival seemed to have been treated horribly or was despised greatly. What a horrible man.
“Take a seat. It’s going to take a while.”
The ground, now lit up, consisted of broken up furniture and other lumps of rubbish scattered across the floor. The former queen made herself comfortable on an old cushion and pointed to one close to me. I sat but couldn’t find anything about it comfortable. Just how long had she been living like this?
“I’ve been here for about a year now. It was hard to adjust at first but it’s not like I have a choice…”
How did she…
“Your face is quite easy to read. I was often told I’m very sharp.”
“Oh…”
“You also look a bit familiar. Have I perhaps seen you before?”
“Well, I used to be a courtesan working for Lady Andrella.”
“You know Andrella?! But how… how did you come to work in the palace? Did she send you?”
“No. I was tasked by his majesty to be the prince’s nurse.”
“Oh! Oh no! This is bad…”
“What’s happening?”
“He knows. He knows everything.”
“Who knows? And what does he know?”
In seconds, she crossed the space and held me by the shoulder, his eyes frantic.
“I know we just met and this might sound crazy but you need to leave the palace with the prince!”
- Writer
